WASHINGTON (AP) — As the United States prepares for an extravagant celebration of its founding principles, fewer Americans see their country as exceptional, a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has found.
Only about one-quarter of Americans say the U.S. stands above all other countries in the world, according to the survey. Another 44% said it is one of the greatest countries in the world, along with some others. About 3 in 10 said there are other countries better than the U.S. — a significant increase from 19% who said the same in an AP-NORC poll conducted in June 2016.
The poll highlights a feeling of unease among many Americans over the future of representative government, particularly among young people. The findings present a jarring contrast as communities around the country prepare to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Americans are less likely to see a democratically elected government as “extremely” or “very” important to the United States’ identity as a nation than they were just a few years ago, the survey found. About two-thirds of U.S. adults now say a democratically elected government is highly important to the U.S.’s identity as a nation, down from 80% in 2021.
The poll also found that Americans remain divided about whether diversity is an essential feature of the U.S.’s identity. Agreement about other aspects of the country’s underlying character appears to be eroding, according to the survey.
The findings come as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, a milestone that has prompted reflection on the country’s founding principles and its current trajectory. The poll’s results suggest a public mood that is more skeptical of American exceptionalism and more uncertain about the health of the country’s democratic institutions than in recent years.
The AP-NORC poll was conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.